BC, Wake try to avoid ACC Atlantic cellar

The two worst teams in the ACC's Atlantic Division meet Saturday with the loser claiming last place all to itself.

The Demon Deacons (4-4, 2-4) have lost four of six, and only one win has been decided by more than six points. This one also figures to be tight: since the series resumed in 2003, the margin in each game has been 10 or fewer points.

"We're always in a dogfight. We always cut it close," Wake Forest linebacker Justin Jackson said. "This is not anything new. We've been in this situation enough that we know how to win in these close situations. We're just going to work on winning this game, then work for the next ones."

Wake Forest is two wins from bowl eligibility for the second straight year, but is facing an Eagles team that has found some confidence after snapping a five-game losing streak by beating one of the teams that previously took care of the Demon Deacons.

"We lost to Maryland and Boston College beat Maryland, so that should tell our players something," Wake Forest coach Jim Grobe said.

BC (2-6, 1-4) isn't out of the bowl picture yet - one more loss will take care of that - but things don't feel as dire for the Eagles after their 20-17 win over Maryland last week.

"I'm a big believer that if the mind is right, the body will follow," BC coach Frank Spaziani said. "We had some spontaneous excitement in the locker room and a win starts to validate the things you are doing."

Wake Forest could use some of that validation, too. The Demon Deacons' only victory since Sept. 22 came against a Virginia team that is the only team winless in ACC play, and they're coming off a 42-13 blowout at the hands of No. 10 Clemson that was every bit as lopsided as the final score indicated.

They have a tough road to bowl eligibility. After this one, they visit a North Carolina State team that hasn't lost at home and head to No. 4 Notre Dame before wrapping up at home against Vanderbilt. Those three teams are a combined 17-7.

"This is cliche, but the only team we have left is Boston College," Grobe said. "That's the way we've got to look at it. If we even think about the next three, we're not doing the right thing."

Chase Rettig has been steady under center for the Eagles, averaging 275 yards, and it'll help even more if they can get their ground game going. BC ranks last in the ACC, averaging 82.5 yards, despite having the league's fourth-best rusher. Andre Williams rushes for 73 yards per game.

The Eagles were held to 32 yards rushing by Georgia Tech and an embarrassing 8 yards rushing by Maryland.

"Two weeks in a row, it's been a problem," Spaziani said. "We have identified the issue and we just need to keep working on it. We need to rush the ball better because we are missing some cuts and some blocks. We'll address it and make a couple of changes this week, hopefully it will get to the point where we need it to be."